Poverty reports blown out of proportion

This newspaper, and the media in general, should be looking at the statistics that they print for credibility, rather than to print things that suit their political slant.

A perfect example is the recent editorial ? "Poverty rates belie rhetoric." This was a great way to slam Gov. Christie, but someone should be looking at the source of the data that you quoted.

According to a report by the LSNJ Poverty Research Institute, 2.7 million people are below the poverty level because their family salary is below $64,238 to $73,371. Do you realize that these salaries are the equivalent to an hourly wage of $30 per hour to $35 per hour? What would New Jersey labor statistics indicate for hourly wages in the state? How many employees of the Daily Record make that kind of wage? How many of your readers make that wage? How could business in New Jersey survive if the low end of salaries was at $35 per hour?

This "study" implies that if you make less than $35 per hour, you are probably close to living in the gutter, and that your children are at the edge of starvation. On the other hand, if a person is earning $73,371 per year, they are very close to the level at which they are among the "evil rich." They should therefore be taxed much higher, and they should "share" their excess wealth.

This was a welcomed report by those who would want to slam Christie, but it probably did harm to the general public morale. After all, if I a person is getting a salary of $15 to $20 per hour, would this report make them feel like: "What is the use of my trying, I am in total poverty, so I might as well quit working."

Who or what is the LSNJ Poverty Research Institute? Are they part of a political party? What is their agenda? These are questions that you did not address, since their "facts" supported your editorial policy.

Adolf Schimpf

CEDAR KNOLLS

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Poverty reports blown out of proportion

This newspaper, and the media in general, should be looking at the statistics that they print for credibility, rather than to print things that suit their political slant.

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